scholarly journals Discovery of pan-VEGF inhibitory peptides directed to the extracellular ligand-binding domains of the VEGF receptors

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. e1600611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jussara S. Michaloski ◽  
Alexandre R. Redondo ◽  
Leila S. Magalhães ◽  
Caio C. Cambui ◽  
Ricardo J. Giordano
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Vegf Receptors ◽  
Vegf Inhibitors ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Vegf Family Members

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are key molecules in numerous cellular processes, the inhibitors of which play an important role in the clinic. Among them are the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members and their receptors (VEGFR), which are essential in the formation of new blood vessels by angiogenesis. Anti-VEGF therapy has already shown promising results in oncology and ophthalmology, but one of the challenges in the field is the design of specific small-molecule inhibitors for these receptors. We show the identification and characterization of small 6-mer peptides that target the extracellular ligand-binding domain of all three VEGF receptors. These peptides specifically prevent the binding of VEGF family members to all three receptors and downstream signaling but do not affect other angiogenic RTKs and their ligands. One of the selected peptides was also very effective at preventing pathological angiogenesis in a mouse model of retinopathy, normalizing the vasculature to levels similar to those of a normal developing retina. Collectively, our results suggest that these peptides are pan-VEGF inhibitors directed at a common binding pocket shared by all three VEGFRs. These peptides and the druggable binding site they target might be important for the development of novel and selective small-molecule, extracellular ligand-binding inhibitors of RTKs (eTKIs) for angiogenic-dependent diseases.

scholarly journals Ligands with poly-fluorophenyl moieties promote a local structural rearrangement in the Spinach2 and Broccoli aptamers that increases ligand affinities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharif Anisuzzaman ◽  
Ivan M Geraskin ◽  
Muslum Ilgu ◽  
Lee Bendickson ◽  
George A Kraus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Structural Rearrangement ◽  
Structural Reorganization ◽  
Ligand Binding Pocket ◽  
Rna Remodeling ◽  
Small Molecule Ligands ◽  
Target Molecules

The interaction of nucleic acids with their molecular targets often involves structural reorganization that may traverse a complex folding landscape. With the more recent recognition that many RNAs, both coding and noncoding, may regulate cellular activities by interacting with target molecules, it becomes increasingly important to understand the means by which nucleic acids interact with their targets and how drugs might be developed that can influence critical folding transitions. We have extensively investigated the interaction of the Spinach2 and Broccoli aptamers with a library of small molecule ligands modified by various extensions from the imido nitrogen of DFHBI (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxybenzylidene imidazolinone) that reach out from the Spinach2 ligand binding pocket. Studies of the interaction of these compounds with the aptamers revealed that poly-fluorophenyl-modified ligands initiate a slow change in aptamer affinity that takes an extended time (half-life of ~40 min) to achieve. The change in affinity appears to involve an initial disruption of the entrance to the ligand binding pocket followed by a gradual lockdown for which the most likely driving force is an interaction of the gateway adenine with a nearby 2'OH group. These results suggest that poly-fluorophenyl modifications might increase the ability of small molecule drugs to disrupt local structure and promote RNA remodeling.

scholarly journals Doubling the Size of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Ligand Binding Pocket by Deacylcortivazol

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1915-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Suino-Powell ◽  
Yong Xu ◽  
Chenghai Zhang ◽  
Yong-guang Tao ◽  
W. David Tolbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Affinity Binding ◽  
Receptor Ligand ◽  
Ligand Binding Pocket ◽  
Steroid Receptor Coactivator ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Lxxll Motif

ABSTRACT A common feature of nuclear receptor ligand binding domains (LBD) is a helical sandwich fold that nests a ligand binding pocket within the bottom half of the domain. Here we report that the ligand pocket of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can be continuously extended into the top half of the LBD by binding to deacylcortivazol (DAC), an extremely potent glucocorticoid. It has been puzzling for decades why DAC, which contains a phenylpyrazole replacement at the conserved 3-ketone of steroid hormones that are normally required for activation of their cognate receptors, is a potent GR activator. The crystal structure of the GR LBD bound to DAC and the fourth LXXLL motif of steroid receptor coactivator 1 reveals that the GR ligand binding pocket is expanded to a size of 1,070 Å3, effectively doubling the size of the GR dexamethasone-binding pocket of 540 Å3 and yet leaving the structure of the coactivator binding site intact. DAC occupies only ∼50% of the space of the pocket but makes intricate interactions with the receptor around the phenylpyrazole group that accounts for the high-affinity binding of DAC. The dramatic expansion of the DAC-binding pocket thus highlights the conformational adaptability of GR to ligand binding. The new structure also allows docking of various nonsteroidal ligands that cannot be fitted into the previous structures, thus providing a new rational template for drug discovery of steroidal and nonsteroidal glucocorticoids that can be specifically designed to reach the unoccupied space of the expanded pocket.

scholarly journals Controlled Dimerization of ErbB Receptors Provides Evidence for Differential Signaling by Homo- and Heterodimers

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 6845-6857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senthil K. Muthuswamy ◽  
Michael Gilman ◽  
Joan S. Brugge
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Erbb Receptors ◽  
Erbb Family ◽  
Akt Phosphorylation ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Fk506 Binding Protein ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Differential Signaling

ABSTRACT The four members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in a complex array of combinatorial interactions involving homo- and heterodimers. Since most cell types express more than one member of the ErbB family, it is difficult to distinguish the biological activities of different homo- and heterodimers. Here we describe a method for inducing homo- or heterodimerization of ErbB receptors by using synthetic ligands without interference from the endogenous receptors. ErbB receptor chimeras containing synthetic ligand binding domains (FK506-binding protein [FKBP] or FKBP-rapamycin-binding domain [FRB]) were homodimerized with the bivalent FKBP ligand AP1510 and heterodimerized with the bifunctional FKBP-FRB ligand rapamycin. AP1510 treatment induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB1 and ErbB2 homodimers and recruitment of Src homology 2 domain-containing proteins (Shc and Grb2). In addition, ErbB1 and ErbB2 homodimers activated downstream signaling pathways leading to Erk2 and Akt phosphorylation. However, only ErbB1 homodimers were internalized upon AP1510 stimulation, and only ErbB1 homodimers were able to associate with and induce phosphorylation of c-Cbl. Cells expressing AP1510-induced ErbB1 homodimers were able to associate with and induce phosphorylation of c-Cbl. Cells expressing AP1510-induced ErbB1 homodimers were able to form foci; however, cells expressing ErbB2 homodimers displayed a five- to sevenfold higher focus-forming ability. Using rapamycin-inducible heterodimerization we show that c-Cbl is unable to associate with ErbB1 in a ErbB1-ErbB2 heterodimer most likely because ErbB2 is unable to phosphorylate the c-Cbl binding site on ErbB1. Thus, we demonstrate that ErbB1 and ErbB2 homodimers differ in their abilities to transform fibroblasts and provide evidence for differential signaling by ErbB homodimers and heterodimers. These observations also validate the use of synthetic ligands to study the signaling and biological specificity of selected ErbB dimers in any cell type.

scholarly journals Elucidation of Novel Structural Scaffold in Rohu TLR2 and Its Binding Site Analysis with Peptidoglycan, Lipoteichoic Acid and Zymosan Ligands, and Downstream MyD88 Adaptor Protein

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bikash Ranjan Sahoo ◽  
Madhubanti Basu ◽  
Banikalyan Swain ◽  
Manas Ranjan Dikhit ◽  
Pallipuram Jayasankar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Comparative Modeling ◽  
Lipoteichoic Acid ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Binding Motifs ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Binding Domains

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key roles in sensing wide array of microbial signatures and induction of innate immunity. TLR2 in fish resembles higher eukaryotes by sensing peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of bacterial cell wall and zymosan of yeasts. However, in fish TLR2, no study yet describes the ligand binding motifs in the leucine rich repeat regions (LRRs) of the extracellular domain (ECD) and important amino acids in TLR2-TIR (toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain that could be engaged in transmitting downstream signaling. We predicted these in a commercially important freshwater fish species rohu (Labeo rohita) by constructing 3D models of TLR2-ECD, TLR2-TIR, and MyD88-TIR by comparative modeling followed by 40 ns (nanosecond) molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) for TLR2-ECD and 20 ns MDS for TLR2-TIR and MyD88-TIR. Protein (TLR2-ECD)–ligands (PGN, LTA, and zymosan) docking in rohu by AutoDock4.0, FlexX2.1, and GOLD4.1 anticipated LRR16–19, LRR12–14, and LRR20-CT as the most important ligand binding motifs. Protein (TLR2-TIR)—protein (MyD88-TIR) interaction by HADDOCK and ZDOCK predicted BB loop,αB-helix,αC-helix, and CD loop in TLR2-TIR and BB loop,αB-helix, and CD loop in MyD88-TIR as the critical binding domains. This study provides ligands recognition and downstream signaling.

scholarly journals Determinants of spironolactone binding specificity in the mineralocorticoid receptor

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
FM Rogerson ◽  
YZ Yao ◽  
BJ Smith ◽  
N Dimopoulos ◽  
PJ Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Experimental Data ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Binding Specificity ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Ligand Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Domains

Spironolactone is a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist in clinical use. The compound has a very low affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Determinants of binding specificity of spironolactone to the MR were investigated using chimeras created between the ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of the MR and the GR. These chimeras had previously been used to investigate aldosterone binding specificity to the MR. Spironolactone was able to compete strongly for [(3)H]-aldosterone and [(3)H]-dexamethasone binding to a chimera containing amino acids 804-874 of the MR, and weakly for [(3)H]-dexamethasone binding to a chimera containing amino acids 672-803 of the MR. Amino acids 804-874 were also critical for aldosterone binding specificity. Models of the MR LBD bound to aldosterone and spironolactone were created based on the crystal structure of the progesterone receptor LBD. The ligand-binding pocket of the MR LBD model consisted of 23 amino acids and was predominantly hydrophobic in nature. Analysis of this model in light of the experimental data suggested that spironolactone binding specificity is not governed by amino acids in the ligand-binding pocket.

scholarly journals Ligand control of interaction in vivo between ecdysteroid receptor and ultraspiracle ligand-binding domain

2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (3) ◽  
pp. 779-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas BERGMAN ◽  
Vincent C. HENRICH ◽  
Uwe SCHLATTNER ◽  
Markus LEZZI
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Global Features ◽  
Ecdysteroid Receptor ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Dimerization Interface

Ecdysteroids (Ecs) enhance the formation of Ec receptor–ultraspiracle protein (EcR–USP) heterodimers which regulate gene transcription. To study EcR–USP heterodimerization, fusion proteins were constructed from the LBDs (ligand-binding domains) of Drosophila EcR or USP and the activation or DNA-binding region of GAL4 respectively. Reporter gene (lacZ) activation was fully dependent on the co-expression of the two fusion proteins and thus constitutes a reliable measure for the interaction in vivo between the two LBDs in the yeast cell. To identify structures involved in heterodimerization, a total of 27 point mutations were generated in the EcR and USP LBDs at selected sites. Heterodimerization and its inducibility by ligand were mainly affected by mutations in the dimerization interface and in the ligand-binding pocket of EcR respectively. However, also mutations not located in these structures or even in the LBD of USP influenced ligand-dependent heterodimerization. Together with previously reported ligand-binding studies, the existence of such local, intra- and inter-molecular mutation effects suggest that ligand-induced dimerization results from a synergistic interaction between ligand-binding and heterodimerization functions in EcR LBD, and that it depends on global features of the LBDs of EcR and USP and on their mutual surface compatibility.

scholarly journals Identification of a conserved virion-stabilizing network inside the interprotomer pocket of enteroviruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin W. Flatt ◽  
Aušra Domanska ◽  
Alma L. Seppälä ◽  
Sarah J. Butcher
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Ligand Binding Pocket ◽  
Virus Attachment ◽  
Density Maps

AbstractEnteroviruses pose a persistent and widespread threat to human physical health, with no specific treatments available. Small molecule capsid binders have the potential to be developed as antivirals that prevent virus attachment and entry into host cells. To aid with broad-range drug development, we report here structures of coxsackieviruses B3 and B4 bound to different interprotomer-targeting capsid binders using single-particle cryo-EM. The EM density maps are beyond 3 Å resolution, providing detailed information about interactions in the ligand-binding pocket. Comparative analysis revealed the residues that form a conserved virion-stabilizing network at the interprotomer site, and showed the small molecule properties that allow anchoring in the pocket to inhibit virus disassembly.

scholarly journals Role of substrate recognition in modulating strigolactone receptor selectivity in witchweed

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiming Chen ◽  
Alexandra White ◽  
David C. Nelson ◽  
Diwakar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Parasitic Weed ◽  
Receptor Selectivity ◽  
Ligand Selectivity ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Structural Details ◽  
D Loop ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Witchweed, or Striga hermonthica, is a parasitic weed that destroys billions of dollars worth of crops globally every year. Its germination is stimulated by strigolactones exuded by its host plants. Despite high sequence, structure, and ligand binding site conservation across different plant species, one strigolactone receptor in witchweed (Sh HTL7) uniquely exhibits a picomolar EC50 for downstream signaling. Previous biochemical and structural analyses have hypothesized that this unique ligand sensitivity can be attributed to a large binding pocket volume in Sh HTL7 resulting in enhanced ability to bind substrates. Additional structural details of the substrate binding process can help explain its role in modulating the ligand selectivity. Using long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that mutations at the entrance of the binding pocket facilitate a more direct ligand binding pathway to Sh HTL7, whereas hydrophobicity at the binding pocket entrance results in a stable “anchored” state. We also demonstrate that several residues on the D-loop of At D14 stabilize catalytically inactive conformations. Finally, we show that strigolactone selectivity is not modulated by binding pocket volume. Our results indicate that while ligand binding is not the sole modulator of strigolactone receptor selectivity, it is a significant contributing factor. These results can be used to inform the design of selective antagonists for strigolactone receptors in witchweed.

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